In speaking with them, Judge Gray stated, “I have a lot of respect for your organization, and I’m more than happy to give you my full endorsement.”

Judge Jim Gray is a former presiding judge of the Superior Court in Orange County, California, and is the author of several books including 2001?s Why Our Drug Laws Have Failed: A Judicial Indictment Of War On Drugs, and 2010?s A Voter’s Handbook: Effective Solutions to America’s Problems.

Sensible Washington is excited about this endorsement, and feels that it will help bring attention to their efforts to end adult cannabis prohibition in the State of Washington.

“To correct the record, NORML has never endorsed any of the proposals put forward by Sensible Washington.”

This isn’t confusion this is a lie. I’ve been told to my face by Keith, that NORML endorsed Sensible Washington. NORMLs Board of Directors voted on and passed the motion to endorse Sensible Washington’s I-1068 and I-1149….you think Keith would know about this even if he didn’t say it himself.

Wow. I saw no “blatant lie,” just some minor confusion over past policy. It’s amazing to me how the severely misguided anti folks have declared a dirty political war on marijuana reform leadership.
Besides the greedy grower motivation, I can’t stop thinking that with the billions of dollars in resources the prohibition profiteers (police, prisons, pharmaceuticals, alcohol, drug “treatment”/testing, drug cartels, money laundering banks, etc.) have, it would be EXTREMELY unlikely they would not be part of this incredibly counter-productive “anti” action.

“it’s not worth the time and effort to point people towards initiatives that haven’t made the ballot.”

That has got to be one of the lamest and most ridiculous things ive ever read. WHAT? Why not use your resources to make change, not just wait and watch and maybe do something once something gets on the ballot [meaning they have a ton of money and probably dont need their help anyway]

To correct the record, NORML has never endorsed any of the proposals put forward by Sensible Washington. Organizationally we do not endorse any voter initiative until it has qualified for the ballot, and Sensible Washington has never come close to qualifying.

Let’s hope I-502 is approved this November, and we will not need another legalization initiative in Washington. But if it does not, then we would look forward to endorsing the newest Sensible Washington proposal, assuming they finally find the resources to qualify the measure for the ballot.If at first you don’t succeed …
Keith Stroup
NORML Legal Counselhttp://disqus.com/guest/3fd51be595afdc35bbeeee21d117b3e7/

As I said, I stand corrected. NORML did endorse I-1068. “In 2010, Sensible Washington had to drag NORML, kicking and screaming,
into endorsing 1068 and, then, the group couldn’t be bothered to help
publicize 1068’s existenceÃ¢â‚¬”which would’ve been kind of helpful. But here
we are two years later and NORML is enthusiastically promoting I-502.” Philip Dawdy

I stand corrected. It has since become the policy of NORML to endorse only when initiatives qualify for the ballot.

“NORML executive director Allen St. Pierre said that the national
NORML board of directors had endorsed the initiative [1068] and that local chapters were involved in the effort, but that NORML wouldn’t do much more than that until — and unless — the initiative makes the ballot, something St. Pierre suggested he doubted would happen.

“I’m very skeptical about their prospects,” he said. “These guys said from the beginning they didn’t have any money, and no initiatives not funded by billionaires have actually made it, yet they still decided to move forward. I told them NORML can’t do much until they get on the ballot — it’s not worth the time and effort to point people towards initiatives that haven’t made the ballot.”

actually they did endorse them. here are two press releases that sensible posted about NORML endorsing them in both 2010 and 2011. NORML didnt say anything about that not being true and they would have if it wasnt. in fact one of sensibles foudners is NORML Board of Directors member Jeffrey Steinborn. i also talked to keith backstage at hempfest 2010 and he said that they definitely support and endorse i-1149.